We authors are members of the “creatives” world, artists intent upon presenting our work to others, whether we produce fiction or non-fiction.

To the extent that we want others to see our work, as creatives do, we are also necessarily “businessmen”, whether or not we self-publish or depend upon others for publication.

Now, since I’m talking to the readers of this site, I can take the “creatives” part for granted. The folks who read this may or may not have been businessmen in their prior lives, or they may only now be stepping up to that professionally as part of the publishing process, whether self-published or not.

These are rather different personalities. Many of us are largely the one or the other, though the creative role is probably a given as the primary focus.

So, why am I talking about this? Well, I feel moved to discuss what you might expect when you find yourself responsible for both sides of the requirements.

The difference between these two types of personality comes down to their different responsibilities. On the creative side, you might never publish. You could scribble and explore, set up characters and situations, do original non-fiction work, and so forth. Maybe you churn out a dozen works, and maybe only your grandchildren get to see them in manuscript, after you’re gone, if then. Maybe you never finish that series. It’s your choice: publish or not (do-it-yourself) or find a publisher (let them do that work and deal with its responsibilities).

Or you can go more seriously into business, maybe as a self-publisher, or as a client of a commercial publisher. Either way, that’s a business. If you self-publish, you are responsible to yourself to make your books available, market your products, see that you get paid, pay your taxes and so forth. If you are commercially published, you have obligations to your publisher to deliver and to support his process.

So, why is any of this interesting? Well, you’re not gonna live forever, and that has consequences.

I’m an old techie, myself. I’ve helped build and manage small tech-related companies my entire career, since my first post-college job in 1975 . Eventually, I took up writing and self-publishing, and it’s been fun (still is). I’ve applied my normie business skills and built up tracking systems for the publishing activity.

And now… well I’ve sort of created an inadvertent monster of a business, despite knowing better. It started with my better nature, run somewhat amok. Once I figured out how to self-publish, I set up tracking systems, websites, automated proceeds transfers, advertising, and so forth. Whoo-Hoo. So now I had a slightly unplanned bigger business and I had to make sure everything was properly accounted for, and so forth.

But, in the inevitable nature of things, we are none of us gonna live forever. At this age, that’s starting to be a challenge.

In the real professional world, there are lots of employees who are responsible for business continuity, tax reporting, distributions, and so forth. If they get too old, they get replaced as necessary. If they are acquired, the acquiring company takes on that responsibility. In the one-man-business world… not so much.

Who’s gonna take on that role for you, it you simply go on (businesswise) ’till you drop? On the one hand, it’s my affair if I decide not to burden my family with the complexities of seeking a tidy in-the-will sort of recommendation when the time comes, and try to arrange the eventual shutdown events myself (as late as possible, ideally). On the other hand, I don’t have employees like a conventional business, so I have to make those continuity/shutdown arrangements myself. When and How becomes the question.

So, even if you’re primarily in creative mode, you will still face those business mode decisions. If you were always bummed out by that sort of thing, well, you’ll have to grapple with that eventually

Those who are coping with this, how’s that going for you? Inspiration or advice for everyone?